Potomac Fishing Report

[Pete B]

Water temps on the MD side were 38-41 today, depending on current and how much sun they were getting. Water temps on the VA side were warmer, 41-44 generally, with some small pockets warmer than that. Sunny and only a little wind. Water was stained and muddy, visibility less than a foot. There was no bite at all to speak of until about 1130 or 12 noon. Most of my fish came in the back of a creek on the VA side where I found some warmer water. Spinnerbaits, tubes, and or a small worm, natural colors worked best (red shad and black/blue non-productive). Would not hit a crank bait. I could not get into Powell Creek. The channel markers on the river side of the bridge are gone and the area I used to go in on (north side of the approach) is badly silted in, water depths less than 6” to 2’ as far as 100 yards from the bridge. Caught one nice fish on a jig at Quantico on the rocks, and missed 3 others (all jig fish). Water temps were 41-42 in the outer part of the creek and the water as ripping through there, but if you could find a protected spot they would hit a jig. Again, natural colors. No luck with spinnerbaits or crank baits. I did not go into Chicamuxen. Someone has added several large Christmas trees and some artificial brush piles that are exposed at low tide, and it just wasn’t worth it – not knowing where it was safe to run.
A bunch of dinks, 3 fish 12-14”, 2 fish over 14”. The fish were more aggressive than the water temps would lead you to think, especially in Quantico, but only after 1130.

[herndonpro]

Pete

Where was the brush and christmas trees added in Chickamuxen was it in the bay or farther in the creek? That would seem to be a bad idea, unless it is near shore as shallow as that area is even at high tide.

HP

[Pete B]

HP,
They are scattered though the center and left (south) part of the creek beginning about 1/3 of the way back. It did not seem like a good thing to me, but it might be OK if they remian visible at high tide and none are in the channel. No way to tell the day I was there.
Pete :

[rlb8s]

Pete - Good report. I'm looking forward to the ABA event on 5 April. I may actually get a chance to hit the river next weekend (first time since our Oct ABA event). Again, thanks for the report.